Humidifier



Get. 1, 1935. J. M. GANTVOORT HUMIDIFIER Filed Nov. 2l, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Oct. l, 1935. J. M. GANTvooRT HUMIDIFIER Filed Nov. 21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fils Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFIERl John M. Gantvoort, Sewickley, Pa.

Application November 21, 1930, Serial No. 497,201

15 Claims.

This invention is for an improvement in humidiiiers, and is directed more particularly to an improvement in humidiers wherein the induction of air to be humidied is effected by means of the steam used to supply the moisture to the air.

Humidifiers as heretofore generally constructed have employed various arrangements for bringing air and steam into contact together with a fan for setting the air into circulation. According to the present invention there is provided a humidifier of relatively simple construction which does not require a mechanically driven fan for circulating the air.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which disclose particular embodiments of my invention and in which V Figure l represents a longitudinal section through a humidifier embodying my invention;

Figure 2 represents a transverse section in the plane of line II-II of Fig. l;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through another form of apparatus embodying my invention; and

Figure 4 is a detail View showing a valve arrangement which may be employed for Varying lthe volume of secondary air.

In the drawings 2 designates an outer casing around which is a heat insulating jacket 3.. Spaced inwardly from the outer casing 2 is an inner cylindrical shell 4. The space between the shell 2 and 4, designated 5, is open at one end to the atmosphere, while the other end opens into an angular conduit 6. The conduit 6 may conveniently comprise an extension of the casing 2. Within the shell is a central longitudinal passage having a rear portion 'l and a forward portion 8, the portion 'l being of considerably larger diameter than the portion 8. The passage l opens to the atmosphere at the rear of the humidifier. Interposed between the portions 'I and 8 of the passage is a restricted orifice or venturi 9. At Iii is a steam pipe terminating in a nozzle I I. The nozzle II is located adjacent the rear end of the venturi 9 so that the jet from the nozzle blows through the throat of the venturi.`

The forward end of the shell 4 is closed by the wall I2 and the rear end is closed by the plate I3. The space I4 inside the shell 4 around the longitudinal central passage l-8 is a steam chamber. Steam may be supplied under pressure to the chamber through `a pipe I5, and the steam for the jet I I may be taken from this chamber I4 through the pipe I0. At I6 is a drain pipe for carrying ofi the condensate which collects in the steam chamber.

The angular passage 6 communicates with an outlet pipe Il through a throat I8. The central passage 8 leads into an angular extension I9 ter- 5 minating in a restricted portion or nozzle 20 spaced back of the restriction or throat I8.l

The passage 'I may be referred to as a primary air passage, while the space may be referred to as a secondary air passage. In the operation 10 of the humidier the jet of steam discharging from the nozzle i I into the venturi 9 induces a current of air from the primary passage 'I through the passage S and out the nozzle 2B. In passing through the venturi the air and the steam or water vapor are brought into intimate contact and the air takes up the steam or water vapor. Being surrounded by the steam jacket it, the air in the passageway 'I is preheated so that it will readily take up the moisture. The expansion of the steam in the venturi may tend to condense the steam, but this is offset by the fact that the air l is preheated and the passageway 8 is heated.

The moisture laden air is discharged through the nozzle 20 with a considerable velocity, and this in turn induces a draft of air through the secondary air passage 5 and the passage 6 into the outlet pipe I'I. The air in the secondary air passage, being at the outside of the steam chamber I4, is also preheated or warmed so as not to chill the moisture laden air emerging from the nozzle 20. The moisture laden air coming out of the nozzle `29 is diluted with the secondary air so that air of the proper humidity and temperature ows down the pipe I'I.

If the quantity of steam discharged from the nozzle II is increased, a greater current of air is induced through the Venturi, resulting in a greater volume of moisture laden air discharged 40 from the nozzle 20 and therefore a greater flow of secondary air. Within certain limits, therefore, the system is automatic in its ability to increase the iiow of air by increasing the flow of steam-and still maintain substantially `the same proportional addition of moisture to the air.

The angular extension 6 is-provided primarily to enable the humidifying unit to be mounted at the top of a proofing chamber such as used in bakeries, or other `chamber to be supplied with humidied air. y

In Figure 3 I have shown a modified arrangement where, however, the same principle of operation is employed. In this view ,2,5 designates a shellor casing having an open end 26, a closed of Vthe pipe 28.

end 21, and having a discharge pipe 28 adjacent the closed end thereof. Within the passage or shell 25 is a heating means through which steam can be circulated. I have shown this heating means as comprising a simple radiator 29, and Y steam is supplied thereto through the pipe 20.

At 3| is an air duct having'a venturi 32 at the upper end thereof and having its lower end 33 terminating adjacent the top of the air outlet pipe 28. At 34 is a nozzle arranged to direct a jet of steam into the venturi 32. The nozzle 34 can be connected to Vany suitable source of steam, and may be controlled through a valve 35. I have shown the nozzle as being connected to the outlet end of the radiator 29 so that steam rangement, as in the arrangement shown in Figure 1, produces a relatively small volume of air` highly saturated with water vapor.

This air discharging from the lower end 33 of the pipe 3l into the air outlet passage 28, induces a further flow of air from the casing 25 into the pipe 28. The air discharging from the pipe' 3| is thus diluted with the secondary air, providing a greater volume of air with a more desirable amount of Vwater vapor.

In order to control more accurately the volume ci air humidied and the degree of humidication a Valve is provided in the construction shown for varying the eiective area of the top In the particular arrangement disclosed there is-a sliding plate 31 carried in guides 33 which passesV through a slot in the pipe 28. The inner end of this plate has an opening 39 therein. When the plate is in the position shown in Figure 4 the opening into the pipe 28 is relatively restricted, and only a relatively small volume of secondary air will be induced into the pipe 28. If, however, the slide 31 is mo-ved to the right from the position shown in Figure 4 the effective .open area will be increased, affording less restriction to the induction of secondary air into the pipe 2B.

In both forms oi the invention as illustrated there is an air passage or conduit provided with means ior heating both'primary and secondary air. There is also provided a mixer comprising a steam nozzle and a mixing tube or passage into which the nozzle directs a jet, and in each embodiment the mixing tube or passage discharges into a larger passageway which is open to a source of preheated secondary air.

While in both cases I have shown means for heating the air in the form of a steam heater, it will be understood thatother means than the particular devices shown can be employed for warming the air. It willY also be understood that instead of circulating a heating fluid through the space I4 or through the element 29, a cooling fluid could be circulated therethrough for cooling instead of warming thelair. Obviously, of course, this would require a differentV connection for the'steam jet with a source of steam supply.

Humidifiers made in accordance with the pres- Y ent'invention are of considerable advantage in thatV they eliminate moving parts so that there is practically no wear on them, and having once been adjusted to operate satisfactorily, little attention is required to maintain them in operation.

For the purposes of illustration I have disclosed and specifically described particular embodiments 5 of my invention, but it will be understood that this is merely by way of illustration and that the invention may be otherwise embodiedV under the scope of the following claims.

I claim: Y

l. A humidiiier comprising a primary air and steam mixer having a steam nozzle outside of and directed into the mixer for inducting air into the mixer and supplying water vapor thereto, and a secondary mixer comprising an air l5 conduit, the outlet of the iirst mixer constituting an inducting nozzle for thesecond, said steam nozzle constituting the primary means for effecting the iiow of air through the humidifier whereby the flow of air is always proportioned 20 to the amount of water vapor supplied.

2. A humidifier comprising a primary air and steam mixer including a mixer tube and a steam jet directed into the tube, and a secondary mixer comprising an air conduit'of relatively larger 25 diameter than the mixer tube and having a discharge passage into which discharge passage the discharge end of the mixer tube is directed, the mixer tube and the conduit opening to atmos-Y pheric air.

3. A humidier comprising a primary air and steam mixer including a mixer tube and a steam jet directed into the tube, a secondary mixer at the discharge end of said mixer comprising an air conduit of relatively larger diameter than the 35 mixer tube into which the discharge end of the .mixer tube is directed, a duct for leading air from the atmosphere to said conduit, and means in the duct for warming the air before it is inducted into the secondary mixer, the mixer tube and the 40 conduit' opening to atmospheric air.

4. A humidifier comprising a primary air and steam mixer including a mixer tube and a steam jet directed into the tube, a secondary mixer com-y prising an air conduit of relatively larger diam- 45 eter than the mixer tube into which the discharge end of the mixer tube is directed, the mixer tube opening into the conduit, the tube being arranged and constructed to form an aspirator, and means for Warming the air before it enters 50 either of said mixers, the mixer tube and the conduit opening to atmospheric air.

5. In a humidifier, a casing having an inlet end opening to the atmosphere and an outlet end, a discharge passage leading from the outlet end, a mixer having a steam nozzle within the casing through which air is induced and humidiiied when steam is discharged from the nozzle, the mixer opening into the discharge passage and serving to induce a secondary ow of air from the casing into said passage, the mixer and the discharge passage being aranged to form an aspirator.

6. A humidiiier comprising a primary air and steam mixer including a 'mixer tube opening to 65 the atmosphere and a steam jet directed into the tube, a secondary mixer of'relatively larger diameter than the mixer tube comprising an air ccn-V duit opening to the atmosphere at one end and heater therein, the heater comprising a chamber through the interior of which steam will circulate, said passage having one end thereof open and having the other end thereof opening into a discharge passage, and means for inducing a iiow of air over the heater and supplying moisture thereto comprising a mixer in the said air passage having a steam nozzle which is directed into the mixer, said steam nozzle being connected to said heater.

8. In a humidiiier, an enclosing shell, a steam heater within the shell adapted to heat the air therein, one end of the shell being open to a source of air supply, the other end of the shell communicating with an outlet conduit, and means for inducing a iiow of air through the shell into the conduit and supplying moisture to the air comprising a venturi and a steam nozzle discharging into the venturi, the steam nozzle being connected to said steam heater.

9. In a humidiiier, a conduit having a venturi at one end thereof and having a discharge nozzle at the other end thereof, a steam nozzle opening into the venturi, and an air passage into which said rst nozzle is directed, said conduit and air passages both opening to atmospheric air.

10. In a humidifier, an outer shell, an inner shell within the outer shell and spaced therefrom to provide a secondary air passage, a steam chamber within the innershell, a longitudinal passage- Way through the inner shell defining a primary air passage and having a restricted orifice between the ends thereof, and a steam nozzle terminating adjacent the orifice and arranged to induce air through the orifice.

11. In a humidier, a casing having an air intake at one end, a steam radiator within the casing, an outlet passage at the other end of the casing, a mixer tube Within the casing directed into the outlet passage, and a steam nozzle in the casing directed into the mixer tube.

12. In a humidifier, a casing having an air intake at one end, a steam radiator Within the casing, an outlet passage at the other end of the casing, a mixer tube within the casing directed into the outlet passage, a steam nozzle in the casing directed into the mixer, means for supplying steam to the radiator, and means for conducting steam from the radiator to the nozzle.

13. A humidier comprising an air chamber having an inlet passage and a discharge passage, a steam radiator unit for Warming air in the inlet passage, a mixer tube extending along the chamber having a nozzle portion terminating in said discharge passage, and a steam nozzle directed into the mixer tube, said steam nozzle constituting the only means for effecting the iiow of air through the humidier whereby the iiow of air is always proportioned to the amount of water vapor supplied.

14. A humidier comprising an air chamber having at one end an inlet passage open to the atmosphere and at the other end an outlet passage, a mixer tube within the air chamber, a steam heating unit -for warming air in the air chamber and mixer tube, said mixer tube being open at one end to the atmosphere and having steam from the steam heating unit discharging into one end of the mixer tube, the other end of said mixer tube discharging into the outlet passage.

i5. A humidifier comprising an air chamber having at one end an inlet passage open to the atmosphere and at the other end a discharge passage, a mixer tube within the air chamber, a steam heating unit for warming air in the air chamber, a pipe leading from the steam heating unit and terminating in a nozzle outside of the mixer tube and discharging into one end of the mixer tube, the other end of said mixer tube discharging into the discharge passage.

JOHN M. GANTVOORT. 

